Armed robber raids Rustington newsagents

The robbery took place at Maxted’s newsagents, in Worthing Road.

Officers were called to the shop at 5.20pm after a man wearing a crash helmet and carrying a firearm pointed the weapon at a member of staff and demanded money from the till. He then made off on foot with a small quantity of cash.

The man is described as 5ft 10ins to- 6ft tall and in addition to the crash helmet was wearing a blue hooded top.

Detective Sergeant Colin O’Hare, of West Sussex CID, said crimes like this are normally rare. He added: “While staff were shaken no one was injured during this incident.”

This robbery follows just days after a similar one in Durrington, which saw a man, armed with a ‘pistol-type’ weapon, rob the Post Office in Salvington Road.

Police said the robber used the weapon to threaten a female member of staff at about 1.50pm on Friday (May 9).

The man on this occasion was described as 6ft 3ins, aged about 20, wearing jeans, a dark hooded top with a green letter ‘M’ on the front and back. He was seen carrying a rucksack.

Witnesses said the robber had ginger hair and was wearing thin-framed glasses and a balaclava.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said that detectives are not ruling out the possibility that the two crimes could be linked.

The spokesman added: “Detectives are looking at several lines of enquiry. But we are not ruling out the possibility that the crimes are linked.”

Speaking of the Rustington incident, DS O’Hare said: “Anyone who saw what happened or noticed anything suspicious in the area is asked to get in touch as soon as possible. They should phone Sussex Police on 101 or email [email protected], quoting serial 1213 of 14/5.”

Police are still searching for the man who robbed the Durrington Post Office.

Any witnesses can contact police on 101, quoting serial 739/May 9.